Dave wren still has it

Phillip marvetz · 06-05-2011, 09:45 AM

Just 8 weeks out of open heart surgery and against doctors orders Dave brought one of his Max Wedge Plymouths, This one a blue1962 Belvedere sedan up to Mission for a little fun in the Hotrod class.
At the end of the day Dave was back to his old way's taking home the trophy . I could tell by the big smile on his face that he was having a great time being back on the track again.

Great job Dave and congratulations.

The day also saw Shawn Blair make a rare appearance to do a little bracket racing and take home the win in pro. Nice job Shawn, I'm sure the bracket racers wish you had stayed home, LOL

KDodgion · 06-05-2011, 02:48 PM

How to go Dave great job. Hope you are recovering well. You know I've been there and done that open heart thing.

kDodgion

Jeff Lane · 06-10-2011, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDodgion

How to go Dave great job. Hope you are recovering well. You know I've been there and done that open heart thing.

kDodgion

Fun to hear about Dave Wren still out there racing and winning. Also Ken Dodgion probably has a few stories to tell. My first time ever to a dragstrip I got to ride in the passenger seat of his record holding 63 plymouth belvedere push button automatic SS/GA car. We went 11.27 (no seat belts on my side of the car) What a thrill at Puyallup Raceways, at night, and I have been hooked ever since.
Jeff Lane

Jim Parsons · 06-10-2011, 07:10 PM

Doesn’t surprise me a bit Dave has always been tough as nails both on and off the track, great racer, hard worker and funny guy. Once saw him win a Mission point race in the SS/D car even after missing third gear, just jammed it into fourth and beat another well known racer….can still hear that Hemi moaning.

Yes as far as stories Dave could write a book and I would love to read it if nothing else just the ones about his Chrysler involvement days.

Good job Dave and be safe.
Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons · 06-10-2011, 07:45 PM

Fun to hear about Dave Wren still out there racing and winning. Also Ken Dodgion probably has a few stories to tell. My first time ever to a dragstrip I got to ride in the passenger seat of his record holding 63 plymouth belvedere push button automatic SS/GA car. We went 11.27 (no seat belts on my side of the car) What a thrill at Puyallup Raceways, at night, and I have been hooked ever since.
Jeff Lane

Jeff, I remember that night well and sorry for being the "candy man" hope you don't hold it against Ken, Jerry and me, did I ever get my belt back?

How's Jerry?

Jim

Jeff Goss · 06-10-2011, 08:01 PM

I had the fantastic opportunity to have breakfast with Dave Wren, Jerry Hancock, Gary Rouse, Bill Stewart and Rod Stults just after I had got the old Wagon together (for the first time).

It was one of those moments I'll never forget for the rest of my life. I even had the presence of mind to keep my mouth shut and just listen. Simply amazing what these men have done. The stories were unbelievable (but I believe them-LOL!)

Dave is a really great guy, and has done it all. Best of luck to him in his recovery!

qwiked · 06-06-2011, 11:41 AM

Great to hear that Dave is still alive and kickin' -- The "Missoula Mad Man" has always been one of my favorites.---Just read the Herman Chapman thread and like Herman there are a million Dave Wren stories..

Hemi Moose · 06-09-2011, 04:01 PM

Good to here that he's doing okay now, and yes I wouldn't mind hearing some of those old bench racing stories myself, I'm sure he's got hundreds of them. I recall seeing his old orange 70 Plymouth Cuda that was restored for sale in the last few years, and also heard that he recently bought back his old 68 Hemi Barracuda Super-Stocker last year. Curious on what other cars he's running now.

Phillip marvetz · 06-09-2011, 07:00 PM

Dave has a few race cars still. He usually runs a 62 plymouth with a max wedge, And he did bring his aluminum 63 car up a couple years ago for a few passes. He also brings his red 68 ss/aa barracuda up to Mission every once in awhile, Although he slows it down to run under the 10.0 index. He doesn't want to deal with all the SFI tags to run it into the 9s.
He brought his original 68 car up last summer to see how it ran after he bought it back, It went a 10.57 on a easy pass. No roll bar thru the mufflers and dot tires.
He spends a lot of time working on his collection mopars, mostly 1930s thru 1950s stuff.

Geerhead55 · 06-09-2011, 11:28 PM

Dave Wren has been a favorite of mine for over 40 years,, of course I was just a highschool kid back then. I'm also glad to see that Ken Dodgion is still around. I remember seeing a Super Bee with his name on it out at good 'ol Puyallup Raceway many years ago before he started racing the wagon. Those were fun days.
Danny Durham

06-05-2011, 09:45 AM	#1
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Dave wren still has it Just 8 weeks out of open heart surgery and against doctors orders Dave brought one of his Max Wedge Plymouths, This one a blue1962 Belvedere sedan up to Mission for a little fun in the Hotrod class. At the end of the day Dave was back to his old way's taking home the trophy . I could tell by the big smile on his face that he was having a great time being back on the track again. Great job Dave and congratulations. The day also saw Shawn Blair make a rare appearance to do a little bracket racing and take home the win in pro. Nice job Shawn, I'm sure the bracket racers wish you had stayed home, LOL __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder

06-05-2011, 02:48 PM	#2
KDodgion Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lincoln, Ca Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it How to go Dave great job. Hope you are recovering well. You know I've been there and done that open heart thing. kDodgion

06-10-2011, 07:10 PM	#4
Jim Parsons Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Kearney Mo Posts: 197 Likes: 425 Liked 195 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Doesn’t surprise me a bit Dave has always been tough as nails both on and off the track, great racer, hard worker and funny guy. Once saw him win a Mission point race in the SS/D car even after missing third gear, just jammed it into fourth and beat another well known racer….can still hear that Hemi moaning. Yes as far as stories Dave could write a book and I would love to read it if nothing else just the ones about his Chrysler involvement days. Good job Dave and be safe. Jim Parsons

06-10-2011, 07:45 PM	#5
Jim Parsons Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Kearney Mo Posts: 197 Likes: 425 Liked 195 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Fun to hear about Dave Wren still out there racing and winning. Also Ken Dodgion probably has a few stories to tell. My first time ever to a dragstrip I got to ride in the passenger seat of his record holding 63 plymouth belvedere push button automatic SS/GA car. We went 11.27 (no seat belts on my side of the car) What a thrill at Puyallup Raceways, at night, and I have been hooked ever since. Jeff Lane Jeff, I remember that night well and sorry for being the "candy man" hope you don't hold it against Ken, Jerry and me, did I ever get my belt back? How's Jerry? Jim

06-10-2011, 08:01 PM	#6
Jeff Goss Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burlington, WA Posts: 361 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it I had the fantastic opportunity to have breakfast with Dave Wren, Jerry Hancock, Gary Rouse, Bill Stewart and Rod Stults just after I had got the old Wagon together (for the first time). It was one of those moments I'll never forget for the rest of my life. I even had the presence of mind to keep my mouth shut and just listen. Simply amazing what these men have done. The stories were unbelievable (but I believe them-LOL!) Dave is a really great guy, and has done it all. Best of luck to him in his recovery!

06-06-2011, 11:41 AM	#7
qwiked Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Liberty Lake, WA, Peoria,AZ Posts: 80 Likes: 195 Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Great to hear that Dave is still alive and kickin' -- The "Missoula Mad Man" has always been one of my favorites.---Just read the Herman Chapman thread and like Herman there are a million Dave Wren stories..

06-09-2011, 04:01 PM	#8
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Good to here that he's doing okay now, and yes I wouldn't mind hearing some of those old bench racing stories myself, I'm sure he's got hundreds of them. I recall seeing his old orange 70 Plymouth Cuda that was restored for sale in the last few years, and also heard that he recently bought back his old 68 Hemi Barracuda Super-Stocker last year. Curious on what other cars he's running now.

06-09-2011, 07:00 PM	#9
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Dave has a few race cars still. He usually runs a 62 plymouth with a max wedge, And he did bring his aluminum 63 car up a couple years ago for a few passes. He also brings his red 68 ss/aa barracuda up to Mission every once in awhile, Although he slows it down to run under the 10.0 index. He doesn't want to deal with all the SFI tags to run it into the 9s. He brought his original 68 car up last summer to see how it ran after he bought it back, It went a 10.57 on a easy pass. No roll bar thru the mufflers and dot tires. He spends a lot of time working on his collection mopars, mostly 1930s thru 1950s stuff. __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder

06-09-2011, 11:28 PM	#10
Geerhead55 VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 1,632 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Dave wren still has it Dave Wren has been a favorite of mine for over 40 years,, of course I was just a highschool kid back then. I'm also glad to see that Ken Dodgion is still around. I remember seeing a Super Bee with his name on it out at good 'ol Puyallup Raceway many years ago before he started racing the wagon. Those were fun days. Danny Durham